Degradable polymeric material

Abstract

A component can include a degradable polymeric material that includes a thermoplastic elastomeric matrix and alloy particles disposed at least in part within the matrix where the alloy particles include aluminum and one or more metals selected from a group of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, group 12 transition metals, and basic metals having an atomic number equal to or greater than 31.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A component comprising:
 a degradable polymeric material that comprises a thermoplastic elastomeric matrix and alloy particles disposed at least in part within the matrix wherein the alloy particles comprise aluminum and one or more basic metals having an atomic number equal to or greater than 31, 
 wherein the degradable polymeric material comprises a percent crystallinity of at least approximately 20 percent. 
 
     
     
       2. The component of  claim 1  wherein the degradable polymeric material degrades upon exposure to water. 
     
     
       3. The component of  claim 1  wherein the degradable polymeric material comprises a hydrolyzable thermoplastic polyester material. 
     
     
       4. The component of  claim 1  wherein the thermoplastic elastomeric matrix comprises a thermoplastic polyester material. 
     
     
       5. The component of  claim 1  wherein the alloy particles comprise less than approximately 50 percent by weight of the degradable polymeric material. 
     
     
       6. The component of  claim 1  wherein the one or more metals comprise gallium. 
     
     
       7. The component of  claim 1  wherein, at a temperature of approximately 22.5 degrees C., the degradable polymeric material comprises a storage modulus that is at least 600 MPa. 
     
     
       8. A component comprising:
 a degradable polymeric material that comprises a thermoplastic elastomeric matrix and alloy particles disposed at least in part within the matrix wherein the alloy particles comprise aluminum and one or more basic metals having an atomic number equal to or greater than 31, 
 wherein, at a temperature of approximately 100 degrees C., the degradable polymeric material comprises a flexural modulus that is at least 30 MPa. 
 
     
     
       9. The component of  claim 1  comprising a structural component of a bore tool. 
     
     
       10. The component of  claim 1  comprising a joint. 
     
     
       11. A method comprising:
 forming a degradable polymeric material wherein the forming comprises compounding a composite of a thermoplastic elastomeric material that comprises alloy particles that comprise aluminum and one or more basic metals having an atomic number equal to or greater than 31, 
 wherein the degradable polymeric material comprises a percent crystallinity of at least approximately 20 percent. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11  wherein the one or more metals comprise gallium. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11  wherein the forming comprises shaping a component of a bore tool. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 11  wherein the forming comprises forming pellets. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 11  comprising exposing the degradable polymeric material to water and degrading the thermoplastic elastomeric material and degrading the alloy particles. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 11  wherein the compounding comprises reactive compounding. 
     
     
       17. A bore tool comprising:
 a degradable polymeric material that comprises a thermoplastic elastomeric matrix and alloy particles disposed at least in part within the matrix wherein the alloy particles comprise aluminum and gallium; and 
 a joint that is made at least in part from the degradable polymeric material. 
 
     
     
       18. The bore tool of  claim 17  comprising a member that is made at least in part from the degradable polymeric material wherein the member is in contact with a component of the bore tool.